Automatic vending machine



Aug. 25, 1953 J. MUNZ ETAL AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE 6 Sheets Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16. -l949 Ill'" llblll Illllln Aug. 25, 1953 J. MUNZ ETAL ,650, AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .5 1480844!!! M N MSLAV 7/6 030 5 Aug. 25, 1953 J MUNZ ETAL AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE 4 t 8 mm s w mm mm mm W 6 I n a m A LM J 7 m 7 I m n WW 9 m 9 a a m mg 1 a e l. l I m I m d e 1 mi.

J. MUNZ ET AL AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE Aug. 25, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 16. 1949 M JAROSLAV MUNZ JAROSLAV TICHDPAD .B I $4.

Aug. 25, 1953 J. MUNZ ET AL AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE a sheets-sheet 6 Filed Sept. 16, 1949 0 2 i B u 3 7 x 7; 4 O

LAV MUNZ I4I1TOSLAV TICHOPAD By. w

Patented Aug. 25, 1953 AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE J aroslav Munz and Jaroslav Tichopad,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application September 16, 1949, Serial No.

3 Claims. (01. 312-66) This invention relates tosdispensing mechanism for vending apparatus. i

This application forms a continuation-in-part of United States application Serial No. 2,778, filed January 16, 1948.

The objects of the invention will be appreciated from a study of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which, it will be appreciated, illustrate mechanisms similar in many respects to the invention described in our application Serial No. 2,778, filed January 16, 1948.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the present vending machine disclosing the merchandise storing columns and the co-operatively mounted selecting rods therefor.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the present machine generally indicating the disposition of the various co-operating components.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a coin receiving and registering member or slotted armature indicating solenoid actuated means therefor and a segmental electrical contact means mounted in cooperation therewith and controlling the electrical drive mechanism for ejecting articles of merchandise from the present machine. Particulars of the structure of the mechanisms shown in this view are fully described in application Serial No. i

2,778 referred to above.

Figure 4 is an electrical schematic of the electrical circuit which is an improvement over that described in our prior which according to the present invention, includes switch means which are camcontrolled to govern the actuation of the merchandise discharge mechanism.

Figure 5 is a cut-away view of the machine generally indicating the various coin channels relevant to the handling of valid and non-valid coins described in my prior application referred to but illustrated hereinfor the purpose of continuity.

Figure 6 is an elevation of cam switch mechanismand the merchandise discharge arm and link components in the withdrawn position.

Figure 7. is a further operative view of the components of Figure 6 showing the disposition of same corresponding to the advanced position and the discharge of merchandise fromthe machine.

Figure 8 is a plan View of a selectingrodwhich includes the improvement of a locking rod according to the present invention to retain the selecting rod in the actuated position until merchandise' is discharged from the machine.

application referred to and Figure 9 is a perspective View of a portion of the locking rod illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 corresponds generally to sectional view i0lil of Figure 8 but includes the illustramachine to operatively connect to the locking rod. The illustration shows the selecting rod in the normal position.

Figure 11 is a further operative view of Figure 10 illustrating the position of the components corresponding to the actuated position of the selecting rod.

Figure 12 is an empty column;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the indicating member employed.

Figure 14 is a sectional view corresponding to a further operational disposition of the compoigure 12 when merchandise is resting in the column to show how the indicating member Figure 15 is a perspective view of a merchandise platform illustrating the position of the components when the merchandise column is carrying merchandise. a

Figure 16 is a perspective View of a merchandise column according to the invention which is of the replaceable or removable type.

Figure 17 is a sectional side elevation of a merchandise column of the invention illustrating the :2 which may be of various dimensions but which in any case, have corresponding select- Suitable coins may be and the totalizer indicator [5 will showthe total amount of coinage placed into the machine. The apparatus may be of the typedescribed inapplication Serial No. 2,778 whereinthe coin receiving mechaselecting rod may be actuated after the insertion of the coinsto cause an electrically driven mechanism to discharge the selectedmerchanthrough the'slotted armature device 'operativeconnecting line 32 '33 which is driven in a the machine. Therefore, the par ticular coin receiving device in the form of a slotted armature mechanism H3 is shown generally in Figure 3 for the purpose of illustrating improvements relative to the ratchet release mechanism I! described herein although it will be appreciated that details of the structure are described in our prior application. It will be appreciated that the present invention relating to merchandise discharge mechanism and associated components is not limited to the use of a slotted armature described and claimed in the prior application since any coin totalizing device may be employed, the invention herein concerning the electrical means for allowing return of the coin totalizing mechanism such as the slotted armature illustrated.

Referring to Figure 4, as in our application Serial No. 2,778, the coin actuated sensitive switch is is actuatedby valid coins passing Hi to en- (Figure 3) thereof to disc from ergize the solenoid cause clockwise rotation of the peripheral strip 25 until the coins entered cause the strip to move to a position such that its contact 2i engages a contact such as contact 22 corresponding to the purchase price or 25- to which group B of the radially disposed contacts 23 are connected. Therefore, any of. the selecting rods of the associated columns of group 13, having switches 24,"will close the ele. trical circuit of the motor 25 as will be evident by noting that the motor connects by line 26 to the grounded side 21 of the electrical current supply 23 whereas the armature device and one of the switches 24 .will have completed the other side of the circuit through to line 29 of the source 28. Also note that the locking rod solenoid 3!! being electrically in series with switches 24 and motor 25 will have its circuit completed. The locking bar solenoid 33 is utilized in a manner yet to be described in the device of Figures 8 to 11 and serves the purpose of retaining a selecting rod 31 -(see the latter figures) in the actuated po- 7 sition. v

The motora suitable gear reduction 25 is in drive connection through with a cam device h clockwise direction shown by arrow 34. The cam is shown in the normal non-actuated position and supports on it's semi-circular periphery 35 a roller 33 onthe end of warmer which governs actuation of a sensitiveswitch" device 38. This switch device shall 'betermed the motor switch device and is 0515118 normal-ly closed type but is open for the position of the arm 31 shown. The motor 25 and'ca'm 33' are operatively related through 'suitablelinkage devices yet to be described to means for discharging merchandise from the machine. Therefore-"as the motor circuit is completedthedischarging operation'will be initiated andprogress' to" a full limit corresponding to the"'actual"discharge of merchandise at which the semi-circular periphery 35 of the cam passes the roller 36 allowing the arm S'Ito drop and thereby causing the motor switch 38 to close.

' 'A't'thisfp'oint or operation'two factor-s come into play; The discharge mechanism must be returned to the normal position and the totalizer device or slotted armature means It must also be returned to the normal position. In respect to the slotted armature a totalizer re set switch 39 is employed which is of the normally closed type. but is open for the position device as indicated by which is pivoted at its connected by suitable Although a single link arm connecting between.

cam 33- to the arm 48 would give the tion, the structure actually employed by reason 4 of the components illustrated in Figure 4 and has arm 4!] engaging arm 31 for operative actuation thereby. Therefore, as the arm 31 drops 7 in the manner described, the arm 40 will also drop and the switch 39 will close at the same time as closure of motor switch 38 is eil'ected. As a consequence, totalizer switch 39 will complete the circuit of the. r set solenoid 4|, as sociated with the slotted armature.- lain a manner yet to be described, by completing electrical connection through the lines 42 and 42a to the line 29 and the source and by way of line 7 43 which connects directly to this reset solenoid which extends from the grounded side 21 of the electrical source 28. Therefore, the slotted armature device will be released to return to-its normal position in a manner yet to be described but the motor circuit will be retained by the motor switch 33 since line 44 of the motor will connect therethroughto line 45 which is in connection. with line 29 0f the source, the motor already being in direct connection with the line to the groundedside 7 The motor. will, therefore, continue to drive the cam device 33 and the discharge mechanism to cause return of the latter to its normal position until the roller 36 is. engaged by the semi-circular surface 35 of the cam thereby opening the switches 38 and 39.

By reference to our prior application noted, it will be realized thatin the mechanism disclosed in Figures 14 and 15, theactuation of a selecting rod 3! causes the push fingers as to be raised above the merchandise supporting platiorm i'i as illustratedin Figure 15 and that the discharging arm 4S isoperatiyely connected to these push fingers by the transverse channel member L19. so that. the push fingers are urged in advancing direction to cause the article of merchandise 5a to falljin the direction of arrow 5! (Figure 14) to be received in the trough 52 (Figure 2) from which it: may be retrieved by the operator; The two extremeepcrative positions of the arm 48. are illustrated in Figure 14. and the manner of actuation of the same is disclosed by reference to Figures 6 and 7 Referring to the latter figures. the arm- 38 upper end (not shown) is linkage 53-to the cam 33.

the mid-point of the semi-circular region of the same funcof dimensional considerations within a practical machine is-illustrated. Thus, the 'linlc 54 extendingfrom pivotal connection to thecarn 33 as at 55 connects pivotally as theli-n-k 5? which is 'swingable abouttiie fixed stud shaft 58' which may be anchored to a suitable portion of the frame of the machine. Link 53 is rigidly connected tolink. 53 so that the angle between these links. remains constant, the latter link pivotally connecting at its outer end as at 33 to the relatively shorter linig E iextcnding ior connection as at fiz toarm asthe- 33 rotates cloci'nviseircm the'no position illustrated in Figure? the drawn-to the position indicated-in Fig-urecorresponding to the maximum swingableposition of the arm for dischargeof merchandise. from the machine by the pushfingers 13$..(Figurel5) The motor switch 38 Landtotalizer reset switch 39. are shown in their.. at=rest open positions in Figure 6, thatisto say,.the switch arms es an'd 6d are. disposed awayfrom the. circuitclosnre for 36 which is mounted thereon by a suitable ing the locking bar counter-clockwise to the pobracket 61, the. arm being pivoted as at 68 and s1t1on indicated in Figure 11 to retain the selectcarrying an engaging member 69 which controls 5 ing rod in the actuated position until the solethe positionof the switcharm' 63. In a some noid is de-energized. The solenoid will be dewhat similar manner thearm 40 is pivoted as energized when the slotted armature device is at and carries the engaging member 1| thereallowed to return to its normal position which, n l as previously described, occurs when the cam Preferably, the cam 33 has a substantially 10 33 has passed throughsubstantially 1-80 of its flat portion 12 in its semi-circular surface 35 to rotative movement.

insure a more positive action of the switches. The totalizer reset switch 39 will cause ener- Asthe cam rotates through 180, the arms 31 and gization of the totalizer reset solenoid 4! (Figure 49 fall to the position indicatedin Figure 7, the 3) after the merchandise has been delivered to opening of the switches 38 and 39, the shoulder 20 or slotted armature illustrated by tension of In accordance with this invention the locking In all otherrespects the operation and construerod so no d 36 is employed to control the mermo tion of the components illustrated in this figure ends is sufficient to allow actuation of one seplatform 47 to mount the control arm 98 Dlv tally lectlng rod only at a tune by allowing a Wedge i0 011 he Shaft 9 A generally U-S aDBd member lug i5 of a, selectmg rod to pass therebetween i H] is 3,180 swmgable 011 the shaft 99 and is conmotor switch 38 was closed by semi-revolution 13081151011 indicated in ure 1 a locking rod 8i] is disposed transversely of the Own 111 Flgure 13) having a body Portion accommodate a locking lug 82 extending through t 8 $u1'tab1e 1ettering A fulcrum p ea which extends to a bracket as on the end of ab Screw I Thus, in Fi ure 12, the free end Selecting rod 3 is urged fgrwardly thgqockmg sent that the fulcrum portion III) of the indicator lug 82 thereof passes into an adjacent socket 8| m mber "15 passes through a slot H4 in a suitof the locking bar and if the electrical circuit able sheet metal support H5 extending upwardly Ito thefswitch means zlt iscompleted by the fr0m themerchandise supportplatform M. A

fsheet metal facing lit 521 of the andassoc 7 the strap, I L25! the ar cl "to the dimension one machine.

, chine, various merchandise columns maybe providcd which will besuitable to vend merchandise ,of lengths less than a certain maximum figure.

(opening I i ii. wlllvdetermlne argue the ht e emachine; has a l 1, t em xt ndin below the selecting rodsasjindic lie h lang t n tilt of ea h or ind cato mbers wi b d spos d, n t e po tion ind cated in Fi 2 en. h ha the o e tor m y see the reading matter L09. thereon when the merchandise columns areempty. However, when an article of merchandise all is resting on a co trol a m a h ndieatermember 05 ll ot te t t e plosi onihd cated in Figure 14 so that he f ange 118 the eo is d spos d o of view by the operator.

In a o -s oe iththep esent nven ion the ven ing a a atus. is cap le o adjustment to handl var u iz s o merc a dise Within a limited range. Thus, the merchandise columns 12 of Fi e 1 m y be variousw dths in acordan e with th wid h. of the c a d s t b ve ues.- i F gu es 1.6 and .17 is me ha i e lum I 2 is shown as bei g o a gen rally uhap dsect na form hav g a th o e end thereof side, wings liflvextending rearwardly to define a discharge ope ing LL91. A spring restrained terior surface oi the continuous transverse slot its, Ht Such t at the Late mem er 22 thereo normally extends .aoross'the opening. Mounting brackets iZS extend fromthewall l2! and have slots 12 3 designed to pass overthe mounting .1155 its s ppo ed n a sui able me n ec I25 runnin transrers y of th ma h n i t re ward portion, The open sideof; the merchandise elu' .Q pose th ea 21 is p i ly ov -edits] a hierehendisefr ta mhs strap 1 ch a ahook dp rti n L28 es n d to P 7 n ece 29 which vma m. a po tion of the trameeithem n T e ow-er of the t ap izlfearrie a fin er 9 which xtend thro gh a s ite o in the u p wall [itgi'of thdsh'eet metal Support H5 (see also .Ei ur scatt r thef en B2 of v j ex ends downwardly a .s ffi i h d s an e to eng es sid a et asingle' a c e of me chandi e 11:33. rest ng up e uppor 'p a'tiormr lv esrm rehaudi elis d ch f the column gatell} willbe deflected to allow i 33 to proceed in the direction of arrow its, 1

The c andis o umns ma h v esi ned to handle iouslen ths m chandi e rel va .Xv-by on rtion ne t ar.- ward extent of themounting brackets L23. There are; however, obvious (limits to the length (11- vK 1151 of merchandise which can be handled which will be a max mum dlmension for any l-iowever, with a particular ma- Also the height otthe merohandise dis charge the-maximum thickan article which may berdischarged. It

1 will als h pharent. thatthe columns may be uof varied widthas sien T sin e it ist-coir .u eee arrthat they e lo ated ax a ly in tir selectingcrodsl j disohargecolumn ii35g=is shown of comparatively greater width than-*theother merchandise coll umns. in the practical sense asingle merchanvdise column may than that which would cause interference with mush-fingers e51. ofed-jacent select-ingrod'mecharepresented by the dimenith their respecrIn Figure '-1 aamerchandise be or awidth dimension less asserts adjacent columns could not be. greater than the i u e "Figural l so that the-latter-may-rise'through the dimension between the associated in the discharge mechanism thereof. merchandise columns of difierent dimensions with respect to width and depth may be provided according to the invention. It is preferred that a particular merchandise column be made for each type of article so that the merchandise l mn may b b cke at he er h n i e tributing centre and then distributed to various machines so that itwill not be necessary to load the machines by individual handling ,of the arid- Pu fi if cles to be vended. This is a particular advantage in the vending of artlclessuch as cigarettes, and chocolate bars and the like. If desired, where adiaoeatmetehandise eolumhsare.e earet vely narrow a suitablespacer such as spacers I35 may e o d or a se o h. e appe ancen imp t t fea ur of he v h netmeehih f t i e t on re id s in the m rchand sed shar i me h is i ol n the me h d s platform 41 and push. fingers fifibriefiy dQSQ iibed p vious y- Th re rrin to E ures L2, 4 an 15, it has been no ed that. the swing-able rms of merchandise discharging arms A8, carry the transverse channel member or c ,rriageillfl. pivot-' ally mounting brackets. 13; having bracket, arms I38 carrying the push fingers A5; The channel member has a reciprocating motion for the discharge of articles; the particular'motion illustrated in Figure 14 being indicated by thep-ath Y. It will be appreciated, however, that; this path need not be arcuatebut may he a simple backward and forward motion depending upon the specific actuating .mechanismemploye'd which, in the present instance, .isin the storm of the discharging arms' 58 driven by the :linkagesv previously described in Figures 6 and '1.

7 As a selecting rod 31 isaQtlIatEd-by-the operator, the lug 139 will engage the pivoted bracket E31 mounted-on the carriage or transverse-channel member M. The bracket-armsi38 willride up through the initial position" gaps- Mil (see Figure 15) of-the platform or merchandise support 41. This function may only be accomplished, however, if merchandise indicated in dotted lines by numeral 50 in'Figure- 15 is resting upon the merchandise platform and upon the control arm -98 which is swing-ably mounted in bracket 97 as previously described. The guard arms or arm-portions Hi3 of the control member will be disposed in the path of the bracket arms 138 and push fingers -46 as illustrated in Figure 12, if no merchandise isresting' on the control arm as; However, when-merchandise sitting upon the control arm, the guard arms 583 will be swung away from the path of movement of the push fingers it'in the manner illustrated in gaps Mil in the merchandise platform when the V selecting rod '3! is actuated;

Assuming the electrical circuit to" be completed in the manner previously described, the arms 48 will-be actuated by the linkage previously discussed and will move alongpathy to urge the merchandise it in the direction of arrow 5| (Figure 14); In'this" action, the push fingers l6 ride the upper surface of the platform 41 since the bracket arms I38 will be accommodated-by the longitudinallyextending slot I41; 7A5 the push fingers reach the end limitof their travel 7 en h me chan ise te s al n paths Lto the "52 use Figure 2),

Obviously i 9 they will fall through the end limit gaps 142 under action of the spring 18. Therefore, on the column and comprising in combination a mercarriage and said arm but not the push finger thereof and form and spring m ans f r ca ing h push finger to fall through the end limit gap of the 7' position and to cause said bracket arm and Bald gg im push finger to assume a position underlying said 593132 platform and means for returning said carriage 910906 and said fingers by a path underlying Said Plat- 1 356 345 form to the initial position. 4110 2 Merchandise discharging app as 5451 claimed in claim 1, and a control arm pivotally 1925677 mounted on said platform the latter having a 210O752 slot to accommodate said arm swingably to lie 2323981 therew1th1n and to align its up Surface Wlth 2333 176 the upper surface of said platform when mer- 2354896 chandise 1S resting thereon a guard a 7 tending from operative connection to sa d con- 2413304 trol arm and disposed out of the path of the References push fingers return underneath said platform and end limit gap in the platform at the initial 35 t0 h ni al p iti n- JAROSLAV MUN'Z. JAROSLAV TICI-IOPAD.

Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Sipro Nov. 2, 1897 Sipro Nov. 2, 1897 Cook Jan. 26, 1909 Lany Oct. 19, 1920 Street May 11, 1926 Zsoldos July 12, 1927 Richardson Sept. 5, 1933 Scheurer Nov. 30', 1937 Du Grenier July 13, 1943 Hoban Nov. 2, 1943 Weiler Aug. 1, 1944 Fry June 5, 1945 Fry Dec. 31, 1946 

